Former WSMV Anchor Demetria Kalodimos Sues For ‘Continuing Pattern’ Of Age Discrimination

Former Nashville news anchor Demetria Kalodimos is accusing WSMV and its parent company of age and gender discrimination.

Kalodimos’ attorneys filed a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court. The 23-page complaint details a host of allegations of workplace misconduct and accuses the station of causing emotional distress, creating a hostile work environment and retaliating against her after she complained.

“When I made the decision to devote my career to Channel 4, I never dreamed I would have to bring a lawsuit in order to do my job,” the longtime anchor said in a statement. “If this can happen to me, after decades of dedication and sacrifice, I know it can happen to anyone, and I certainly don’t want that to be my legacy.”

Kalodimos worked as a news anchor for the station for 34 years and alleges that, as she got older, she was subject to “age-motivated ridicule,” including being asked by a manager if she wanted to be called “anchor emeritus” and being berated in front of a TV crew. The lawsuit also claims WSMV hired a younger anchor in 2014 with the intention of replacing Kalodimos.

The lawsuit alleges the station also demonstrated a “continuing pattern” of gender discrimination, including excluding her and other women from key meetings and treating women more harshly after taking medical leave.

“The discrimination Ms. Kalodimos experienced and observed at Channel 4 is consistent with parent company Meredith Corporation’s conduct at its other network-affiliated stations,” the lawsuit claims.

The station’s parent company, Meredith Corporation, says it “strongly disagrees” with the allegations in the lawsuit. “We will vigorously defend ourselves against them,” the company said in a statement.

Meredith is facing a similar, age-discrimination lawsuit filed last year by three other former employees. A fourth former employee filed a separate suit this year. 

Kalodimos’ employment at Channel 4 ended late last year, when Kalodimos says she received word from the station that her contract was not being renewed. WSMV said at the time Kalodimos had not responded to their contract extension offer; the news anchor says that line was false.